The dynamism of the project execution, while looking for quick resolutions, we may tend to accept additional tasks and changes, based on the face value, without applying the change management process. This is a wrong tendency and can serve as an invitation to some critical problems arising in the later phases of the project.

During the project execution, due the dynamics of the tasks, collaborations, communication and the time lines, when we face the heat, we tend to take quick actions. Though, these are the moments of instant gratification, in most cases, we may regret the hasty actions later on and the consequences of such actions are likely to haunt us in our professional lives.

We may also face some tough situations with our colleagues, jealous co-workers, demanding work environment and bosses, or simply the fact the time lines are aggressive. It is human to respond when threatened, therefore, we should be cautious when we respond to any challenge in the heat of a moment.

Therefore when Sun Tzu says, “Do not pursue an enemy who simulates flight; do not attack soldiers whose temper is keen“;

the project manager knows, “Do not try to solve a problem superficially, Do not get into a problem which you can’t handle“.

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It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on.

It intrigues me as Sun Tzu, himself a teacher of the strategies of the war, he has spoken about the evils of the war.

Gone is the era when the world used to be dominated by the brute force of armies. We live in an era, where the world is conquered by seductive products and services.

However, Sun Tzu, means that the introduction of new projects, products and services has certain inherent risks. A new product, with a great demand, may also fail for design problems, incorrect pricing strategies and positioning. The new products and services may suffer due to the skill-gap in the organization. The skill-gap may be due to the lack of building skills or it may be due to the fact that new products and services may need new or additional marketing strategies to push the product into the markets.

Therefore the skill assessment of the product must not only include the project development, it should also include the entire life cycle of the product management, including the launch, media relations and maintenance.

However, in case the we find ourselves, amidst a pet project or a death march project, addressing such a scenario using the skill-gap approach is not likely to help. In such a case, as the pressure to deliver mounts, the risk to delivery also increases, therefore, being articulative, persuasive and persistent about communication related to risks, mitigations, contingencies, alternative options may also help.

Moreover, it is here that a project manager must draw on the wisdom of his years of experience.

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A project plan alone doesn’t ensure project’s delivery. Its the strategic skill of the project manager that has major contribution in project delivery.

While everyone else may only focus on the tasks and actions, its the strategic skills of the project leadership that drive the team towards the project’s aims and objectives.

It is not enough for a leader to observe and plan based on something that can also be seen and observed by the team.

The leader must be able to see-through the things; communication, body language, data and see the patterns that the data conveys. It is the excellence in such abilities that are needed while leading the projects, as it is the leadership who has to perceive the risks & threats to delivery, exploit opportunities, monitor quality and sense the impacts on the stakeholders’ interests, project’s outcome and the organization.

While discussing Tactical Dispositions, in The Art of War, Sun Tzu observes, “To see victory only when it is within the kenof the common herd is not the acme of excellence“.

In simple words it means,”To see the victory only when it is within the knowledge of the common people is not highest form of leadership excellence“.

Therefore, in easy-to-act terms,

The project leadership drives the project to success.

The team carries the project on its shoulders from milestone to milestone until the end.

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If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

2

If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

3

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

This is a prophetic observation!

Applicable whenever we have to take up something new.

In the modern world of project managers, these words carry the wisdom that:

With skills, business knowledge, understanding of the market, skilled people, and understanding of the project needs, a project with any degree of complexity can be delivered.

When you have the skills, business knowledge, understanding of the market and skilled people in the team, but do not understand the needs of the project, the project will be a failure.

When neither the skills, business knowledge, market understanding, skilled people; nor the project needs are understood, and the project work begins, it leads to the project failure.

Therefore, just like a war is not an act of brute violent force, it is a matter of deep thoughts, deliberation and planning, same is the case with a project that an organization takes up to introduce a product or a service in the marketplace.

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In the context of war, the sagacity of employing spies can not be questioned and it still remains a major source of information. In the modern business scenarios, the criticality of the role that information on project delivery can not be denied, however, a project manager is not authorized to use spies for this purpose. However, a project has many sources of information, both formal & informal, colleagues & friends, verbal & written and confidential & public.

About the information sources, and handling the information a project manager may receive, Sun Tzu has said,

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Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity.

2

Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.

We live in world of information overload and exposure. We must rely on people who possess a certain level of wisdom so that they are able to filter the right information for the benefit of the project. This is a special skill, that can only be developed with experience.

While a project manager may receive critical information from several resources, the subject matter experts and skilled people, without appropriate knowledge, skills and wisdom, he is unable to use it to his advantage.

Though, the matter of The Art of War is not project management, we can clearly see that this wisdom, very clearly applies for today’s generals, the project managers, as well. A project manager can only apply

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A Project Manager, A Warrior? Why the philosophy behind the Project Management is similar to that of war? Why a project manager should refer to the Art of War? The wisdom from the thousands years old text is relevant to modern times. Read the Book Summary.

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Project Management Tips for Project managers, team leaders, program managers, quality managers, Project Management Officers or anybody who is responsible for producing timely outcomes can benefit from this concise, yet detailed reference guide. PM 101 allows responsible decision makers to focus on the few basic things that can make or break a successful project, even while wading through thousands of details.